Posted on: May 7, 2015 10:47 AM

For many of us, one of the biggest challenges to keeping up a healthy, fit lifestyle is sticking to a nutritious diet despite hectic schedules. Our lives outside of the gym can be demanding, but having these 4 tricks up your sleeve will keep you prepared to stave off hunger and stay fuelled with healthy options.

1. Switch to steel-cut oats and prep them overnight

Switch to steel-cut oats and prep them overnight. Using the overnight-oats method(below), prep 4 servings of steel cut oats and portion into individual containers. Stack in your fridge and you have breakfast for the craziest mornings of your work week. When it’s time for breakfast, just pop into the microwave for 2-3 minutes (keep an eye on them so they don’t boil over) and stir in a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Once the water comes to boil, add in 1 cup of steel-cut oats and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Simmer uncovered for 3 minutes. Turn heat off, cover, and let sit overnight. In the morning, the oats will have absorbed the water.

Keep a stock of hard-boiled eggs. At the beginning of the week, boil a carton of eggs, peel them, and keep them on hand in an airtight container in the fridge. Eggs are a power food, and are an easy addition to salads, sandwiches, or sprinkle with smoked paprika and black pepper for a healthy, portable snack.

1 large egg has 6 grams of protein and 70 calories.

3. Be a snack stasher

Be a snack stasher. The best weapon against cheating your diet is to always be prepared. Stash snacks in your car, office desk, backpack, or wherever you’re likely to spend time.

Be sure to read the ingredients on your protein bars to avoid hidden sugars and opt for raw nuts over roasted, flavored options to avoid unnecessary sodium.

4. Hydrate

Hydrate. It’s easy to forget to drink water if you’re busy running around, but hydration is one of the most important factors for a healthy lifestyle. Keep a clean shaker bottle in your car to fill up with water for running errands and consider investing in a collapsible bag-style plastic bottle that can be emptied and rolled up if you travel often and want to avoid overpriced airport water bottles. Try to make it a habit to order water along with your drinks during a night out.

Armed with these four simple, easy tips, your healthy lifestyle can easily fit in with the rest of your daily demands, making it even easier to achieve CutAndJacked status.